To The Last Page

If there is one good thing to come out of the Troubles - and I say that as someone who lived through them and finds it hard to see any positive side - it's that the period makes for a great television or movie drama. Or more often a bad one riddled with clichés, to be honest, but even then it provides lucrative work opportunities for local actors, extras and media people. It's sad but it's funny at the same time and Séamas O'Reilly recognises both sides of that equation. It adds up to an entertaining and thoughtful read, one that relies itself on the stereotypes, but with a sense of black humour that has an essence of truth to it. Prestige Drama doesn't try to revive the past, but is more firmly rooted in the industry and the people trying to get something out of it. There's Diarmuid, the writer for 'Dead City', a forthcoming edgy Northern Ireland Troubles TV drama "inspired by real events". He lives in England now of course, but is currently ...

Suspicion is a short work by Seicho Matsumoto, but one characteristically filled with intrigue and potential in how it explores crime and its impact on individuals and society. In one respect it's a familiar subject, a court case, or at least the build-up to a court case that is already causing concern and speculation even before it reaches trail. The accused is believed to be guilty because of her past record and, to be fair, the case against her doesn't look good. Typically however - as noted in Inspector Imanshi Investigates ), Matsumoto considers the wider social context as well as certain cultural issues, but the focus is primarily on the intrigue of the crime mystery. Kumako Onizuka is accused of murdering her husband Mr Shirakawa for insurance and is being defended by a notable lawyer called Harayama. A journalist who has been following and reporting on the case, Akitani, can't understand why the lawyer is bothering himself with such an open and shut case. Onizuka h...